gas pipe compression fittings

[Rickbu]

can anyone help me im having such a hard time.. i am doing the gas on my self build camper and i just cant seem to get all the compression fittings to be gastight . if i attatch the u gauge i can see the pressure dropping down fast enough to loose about 1 microbar per minute . if i pressurerise the lines with my compressor and try use gas leak detector on them i get some very fine bubbles on some of the fittings. tightening them doesnt seem to help . im wondering if i have over tightened them and now need to make the ends of again so i ordered some more olives. are there any tips anyone can offer me?

one thing im wondering is if the 8mm copper pipe i ordered is cheap and too thin... it seems to kink and deform very easy wheras some pipe i took from an old caravan i broke is so tough its hard to form in the shape you want

anyway if anyone has any tips on getting a good seal using the compression fittings please help.. im starting to wonder about using solder joints. at least i know they will be ok.

Rick

[whitemice]

i reckon you are over-tightening them as most do., also only use copper olives. Some pipe is monkey metal though-i buy from local caravan workshop.
this may help.
http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk/advic ... itting.htm

[g-man]

get a mini (6/8/10mm)bender

[AK]

Yes as already mentioned don't over tighten them,

[misty]

you have probably over tightened them, hand tight and a quarter turn is all they need, any how you have done it now if you can't replace it get some calor tight comes in a tube from plumbers merchant, there is another one we use clesse tight i think its called, i always paste my joints with it,
hope it helps
misty

[Rickbu]

i ordered some more olives so i can remake the ends. is that it? hand tight and quarter turn?? its hardly anything.

i thought i was over tightening.
what do you do if it hasnt sealed after the quarter turn. tighten more? or what

[whitemice]

Yes, it's a kind of feel thing.
eg. the fridge/freezer in my van has been in/out 5 times for servicing in 20 years-same olive/conn.

Do your drop test and tighten until it seals, no more. Drop test once a year at start of season- minimum.

[ake]

Put some gas tite on the pipe ends and olives before you put them together, then hand tighten, then a quarter turn, then test, and tighten another quarter if it leaks

[Rickbu]

its driving me nuts this . i have leak detector. i have gas seal non setting compound( but i didnt try to use it yet) . i just cant find the leak! im starting to wonder if there is a perforation in the pipe somewhere. it seems no matter what i do i cant fix the leak. i cant find any leaks with the detector fluid but i can see a pressure drop over a few minutes...

solder fittings?

[ake]

its driving me nuts this . i have leak detector. i have gas seal non setting compound( but i didnt try to use it yet) . i just cant find the leak! im starting to wonder if there is a perforation in the pipe somewhere. it seems no matter what i do i cant fix the leak. i cant find any leaks with the detector fluid but i can see a pressure drop over a few minutes...

solder fittings?

Solder fitting are not allowed on campers/caravans

Take apart every fitting, paste it and reassemble, then test it again. Are you sure your appliances are not leaking?

[Rickbu]

well i have isolation valves on every appliance and am testing with them turned off. if i get to hold pressure in that state then ill test with them turned on

is it ok to use the paste on the fittings? a lot of people say they should be dry?

[ake]

I always paste fittings.

[Rickbu]

right pasted all the fittings. still have pressure drop. even with all the gas taps at each appliance turned off. thinking about ripping it all out and starting again with some better qaulity copper pipe from b&q. ( i got this pipe cheap over the internet) . i have no idea where the leak is and feel like im banging my head against a brick wall.. im just throwing money at the problem now hoping it will go away. could the regulator be leaking or should that hold the pressure in the lines when not on the bottle... i have no idea what else to try now..

[misty]

Rick are you saying that you have the regulator connected or not? It might pass if it is not connected to the cylinder try it connected, in all my time I have never come across a leaking copper pipe, only fittings and regulators, how is the reg connected to your system? Flexi hose check that with soapy water, that could be the place to start,
Hope it helps
Misty

[whitemice]

Are you doing your drop tests with the regulator fitted?

Do the drop test at the flexi hose without regulator.

As stated use washing up liquid in water, with gas on, at all your joints/taps/regulator.